Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Earns “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” Designation in Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center received a perfect score of 100 and the designation of “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey of healthcare facilities on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors, and employees. Nearly 750 healthcare facilities actively participated in the 2026 HEI survey with 44% earning the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation.
“This is the sixth year that our Medical Center has earned this important recognition, and I am incredibly proud of the work we do for the LGBTQ+ community,” said Deborah Visconi, President and CEO, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. “Earning the top score in the HEI Index validates our commitment to providing access to high quality, equitable, and compassionate care to the LGBTQ+ community through our LGBTQ+ Health & Wellness Center. We are dedicated to creating an environment where the community feels safe, supported, and respected so they seek out the care they need without delay.”
The Medical Center’s LGBTQ+ Health and Wellness Center was designed to meet the community’s needs. The Center provides gender-affirming hormone therapy, HIV care, PrEP, and more. The Center has affirming providers who make patients feel welcome while delivering high-quality compassionate care.
“Health care access for the LGBTQ+ community in 2026 is a tale of both important progress and dangerous setbacks," said Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “Even amid extraordinary pressure, many healthcare institutions are continuing to show up for LGBTQ+ patients and staff. Doctors want to take care of their patients in the best way they can. Even so, disinformation campaigns driven by a small minority of politicians who use trans youth as a scapegoat for their own failures and who are dismantling HIV care are having a real impact on people’s lives. It’s vital for all LGBTQ+ people to get the most accurate information we have on access to care across the country, and we are proud of the ways in which the HEI helps the community understand this.”
The HEI helps healthcare facilities maintain and strengthen LGBTQ+-inclusive care even under extraordinary pressure. The report offers aggregate findings, benchmarks, and guidance for adaptation. The standard remains: every patient deserves safe, respectful, inclusive, dignified care. In the 2026 edition of the HEI, overall participation remained strong, despite a challenging moment for LGBTQ+ inclusive health care.
